"If he steers clear of girls and beer he'll be a great player" was Graeme Dott's assessment of Luca Brecel, the talented 14 year-old Belgian who beat Jimmy White and Ken Doherty at the World Series grand finals in Portugal.
Brecel's run ended in a 5-4 defeat to Dott at the quarter-final stage. He acquitted himself very well but Dott made a break of 100 in the eighth frame and dominated the decider.
The crowds still aren't great but snooker in Portugal is in its infancy.
I did meet two young lads who have travelled many hours and miles between them to get here. Luis Alves and Joao E. Silva run The Snooker Planet, a Portugese snooker blog.
Luis is a big John Higgins fan while Joao's favourite is Stephen Hendry.
They are both fascinated by the game but it is hard to play with so few tables in the country - yesterday's estimation of three proved to be a little on the low side. The precise figure is believed to be seven.
Brecel - and the two young fans - represent the future of snooker, which belongs outside British shores.
There's a lot of negativity around this sport but the enthusiasm of youngsters is a wake up call to everyone that snooker is a game many dream of playing and watching and that they will often make a big effort to do so.
33 comments:
But if he takes Dott's advice he'll probably end up as miserable as....Graeme Dott.
Good post that, there certainly is a lot of interest out there in the game and contrary to popular belief, from young fans as well as old.
The interest is there, the sport just needs to be more accessible and easy to follow for those who are enthusiastic about the game. Events like this can only help with that cause.
I can't believe in a whole arena, and quite a big one it is, that there was SEVEN people watching! How poor. Even I get more of an audience than that!
i still cant believe that people who dont know players post things about their character which they know nothing about.
Graeme Dott is anything but miserable. the last few years he has had a torrid time of it, but that aside he is a down to earth guy who is as much fun as your average 30 something bloke.
so, either Donal knows him and is just posting because his fingers are itchy, or the above is the case (he doesnt know him).
Whose the ref in this Higgin's v Davis match Debbie Harry lol, also agree with anon 7:21 about dott.
She just replaced the white ball a mile from where it should be (it was at least 12 inches off) and then she called a foul when higgins fluked a black...
The ref is Patricia Murphy. It was not here first mistake.
Why have two very good post's been removed?, and the Richp one still there bizarre.
Also Rich p did'nt post his comment at 9:52 it was way before this.
The show is unfortunately a huge turnoff!
The game seem to be a total fake, filling broadcasting time.
like bad proboxing.
its close on exhibition play....
The whole point is to showcase the game, therefore if it is like an exhibition then that's a good thing
John Higgins and Stee Davis were mobbed by autograph hunters after their match
The crowds have risen from single figures for the very first match to over 200 tonight
Dave can you tell me why my post was removed, as i only said how well Dott has done with his life, with him being married with a kid and he has plenty of money.
Shame the sound didnt work for some of it. But I enjoyed it. Dunno why the table was not filling the screen. Seemed squashed and made the hard far shots look easy compared to if the table was shown properly. I wondered if the tables had been changed to a square but then they showed other angles.
Jenna x
Also did Dave say he was commenting on these matches? If so which one is he. The more northern guy or the other one.
Jenna x
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqnGA8sdY1I
I must admit I didn't think the table could look so different if the camera was placed in a slightly different position.
On a different point i'm not sure snooker will take off in Portugal if it hasn't already done so. For starters i'm not sure the climate is suited to the sport.
Secondly, their promoting this event but if the locals then can't go and play snooker anywhere it seems pointless.
Thirdly I think the game needs to have the main tour, world champs etc screened to the country - might already be doing so but it's not having much impact based on the crowds etc.
So as much as it's great for the players who are out there for serious promotion of the sport it has to be a little more full-on.
Not knocking what they're doing but this won't get Portugal into snooker.
thanks Gemma
RichP
i am not picking fault here at all. this is just an add on to your point...
its not that the camera is in a slightly different position. going by the arena shot the main camera is MUCH further away than "normal events" that are televised. IMO (although not an expert) is that this is the main cause of the table looking much more square, and actually looking like a buckled square picture frame.
it has completely spoiled it for me.
also, the commentators do not have any more a clue than us, the viewer do, whether or not a ball can pass other ones. they are regularly calling bad shots only to find the cueball is perfect. shame really.
I looked The Snooker Planet blog for a bit. Not knowing Portugese, some knowledge of Spanish helped to get the gist of the site. If for anything, it's good to see another enthusiastic site and a bunch of good youtube highlights.
For this current event, without Eurosport access many of us will be shut out so all the coverage is appreciated.
Dave, can you delete that filthy post from 11.54pm. Someone posted with my name with a link to some dirty site. I didnt dare look at the youtube link above it coz of that. No idea what it could turn out to be.
Thanks.
Jenna x
Done. I also deleted all comments about Graeme Dott and his wife as that whole discussion was uncalled for.
Regarding snooker in Portugal, it's surely supply and demand - the more people who want to play it, the more tables will spring up, as happened in China.
please put moderation on until people can behave- if that means it only gets updated once a day fair enough
So the first post on here Dave is called for??? People sticking up for Dott get there post removed.
Jenna - I'm not commentating on this one
The commentators are Mike Smith and Joe Johnson
Dave off topic, can i ask you what got you into this great game, and what's your highest break?
My original comment about Dott was meant as a light hearted jest but unfortunately the posts that followed took it out of context and made it all seem serious.
Thanks Dave. Joe Johnsons name sounds familiar.
Ok I just googled it, he won the world championsiop so must have seen him on the list of winners. Cool.
Just saw the youtube clip at 11.38pm, was very interesting actually. Lol thought you would be a lot older for some reason Dave! You look a bit like moby!
Was interesting that everyone had thought this Judge Trump guy was gonna be in top 8, I didnt see him play in the world championships so dunno how good he is.
Also funny that Steve Davis thing at the end! Saw him on countdown today. Cant work out whether he is funny or not!
Jenna x
lol at the deliberately wrong name you typed for Trumps first name. very good, Joanna
Ok Ive rewatched it and it said JUDD Trump at the start. Never heard of a name like Judd before so how was I supposed to know, didnt pay full attention at the start. Whatever it was deliberate if it makes you feel better.
Jenna x
So it was deliberately put as judge then jemma how strange???????????????????????????
ive never heard of a PROPER first name of "Judge" either....maybe as a nickname for a dj. hmm
obviously still taking the ****
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